Children's home run by Norfolk County Council in Norwich

Inspection report for children’s home: SC450045 1 SC450045 Registered provider: Norfolk County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a local authority. It is registered to provide care for up to six children who can present with challenging behaviour and need emotional support. The home is a crisis assessment and reunification service.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2021.

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Inspection date: 11 January 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 11 January 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC450045 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, 11 children have moved out of the home. Of these children, 10 have returned either to their families or foster carers or moved to semi- independent accommodation. Therefore, the home has met its objectives by reuniting children with their families when safe to do so.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Currently, two children live at the home. The children are not attending full-time education. However, staff work well with a virtual schools representative. Although not always successful, the staff consistently encourage children to engage in some form of education. Staff think and act creatively by finding alternative means of education that the children will participate in. Due to the children’s previous adverse experiences, they demonstrate a reluctance to attend formal schooling. Nevertheless, staff ensure that communication is routinely made with education providers. Staff understand the importance of regular school attendance.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the children have, on occasion, been exposed to some very risky situations. These include concerns regarding sexual exploitation, fire-setting, substance misuse, self-harm and a high number of missing-from-home episodes. Although the level of risk involved in these situations is of concern, staff have acted with caution and consideration to reduce children’s exposure to risk. A resident police liaison officer has been of great benefit to increasing safeguards. The police officer sources and shares information with the area constabulary. This has led to children being found more promptly when they have been missing. Overall, there has been a reduction in children going missing from the home compared with the frequency with which they were going missing before moving into the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A resident clinical psychologist has been appointed since the last inspection. The impact of the psychologist’s work since joining the home is impressive. The psychologist meets with staff monthly to create an overview of the children at the home. The impact of these overviews is that they have developed staff’s understanding and psychological knowledge. This helps staff to empathise and enables them to help children manage their feelings. This leads to children receiving highly tailored care specific to their identified needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A resident speech and language therapist has worked closely with one child to enable them to convey their feelings and wishes. A social worker was highly complimentary of the support that the therapist offers. In addition, the therapist shared their strategies with the youth offending team, which has led to the team’s Inspection report for children’s home: SC450045 3 improved engagement with the child. This collaborative working ensures that children’s needs are met more effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has met the three requirements and two recommendations made at the last inspection. The manager has made improvements in their monitoring of the care provided at the home. As a result, there have been notable improvements in assessment of risk and safety planning. The manager works exceptionally well with a range of partner agencies. This improves the quality of care that children receive.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children said that they are happy at the home. Social workers said that they are pleased with the care that their children receive and recognise the progress that children have made. Progress includes a reduction in exposure to risk, improvements in communication and improved ability to build and maintain relationships.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have a clear understanding of the children’s needs. Staff understanding is reflective of the children’s risk assessments. Staff feel very well supported by the manager. The support that staff receive from the clinical psychologist is seen as a clear benefit and upskills staff’s practice. Staff are aware of safeguarding and whistle-blowing procedures and understand how to refer safeguarding concerns.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Overall, the home is clean, tidy and well maintained. However, in one area of the home, there are two scorch marks on the flooring where a fire had been lit by one of the children. In a bathroom, there is a broken window. Although this has been made safe, a broken window is not conducive to a homely atmosphere so it requires repair. These issues detract from what is otherwise a well-maintained home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC450045 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/07/2019 Full Good 29/11/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 11/07/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC450045 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this refers to repairing a broken window and replacing the scorched flooring. 18 February 2022

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: SC450045 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Norfolk County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 2DH

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Inspector

Lianne Bradford, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC450045 7 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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